Selkirk and Vale struggle to find game feet

Dave Ryce

RECENT postponements for both sides meant match fitness was always going to be an issue for this one and it was a severely depleted Vale side who travelled to Yarrow Park on Saturday.

Selkirk were missing the talismanic Phil Addison, but fielded all four of their recent French signings who all showed some nice touches.

Little happened of note before Vale made the breakthrough in the 25th minute, a Daniel McAleavy corner finding Keith Lough at the back post, whose volley found the net despite David Battle’s attempt to clear off the line.

Lough struck again seven minutes later, collecting a pass from John Ferguson and firing a shot from the edge of the area that took a nick off Battle to leave keeper Gregor Amos flat-footed on the line.

Five minutes from half time the Souters were back in the match as two of their recent recruits combined to score, Yanis Lamghari cutting back for Jordane Orain to hammer home.

Unfortunately that was pretty much it in terms of entertainment. The blame for the lack of quality on display in the second half had to put squarely at the door of the underfoot conditions as the ball bobbled and stuck on the deteriorating surface, with miskicks aplenty and chances ending up sailing high or wide or both.

The keepers even tried to help as both Amos and Graham O’Brien suffered rushes of blood to the head and rushed recklessly out of their areas, but on both occasions the respective attacking sides couldn’t force the ball home.

With five minutes remaining, Vale’s Scott Gormley managed to put the result beyond doubt as he ran in behind the home defence to slot the ball beyond Amos.